Patent GB-1067623-A (GB)
Title: Automatic cutting machine
IPC: B21D28/08
Filed: 1965-06-25
Abstract: 1,067,623. Cutting-out presses. COMPO SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION. June 25, 1965 [July 17, 1964], No. 27013/65. Heading B4B. An automatic die-cutting machine comprises means for operating a die for movement transversely of and perpendicularly to a platen to cut sheet material supported by the platen, drive means for effecting transverse movement of the means for operating the die and control means operative to arrest operation of the drive means to bring the die to a stop at precisely the same position relative to the platen each time it is stopped. The machine comprises a platen 14 over which the material to be cut is fed by means of discs 16 mounted on a shaft 18. A beam 22 mounted transversely of the platen has slidably mounted lengthwise thereof a head 26 supporting a ram 28 which is movable by fluidpressure perpendicular to the platen to effect a cutting operation. The head is traversed by means of a screw (25, Fig. 4) mounted on the beam, one end of the screw being connected by a magnetic clutch to a reversible motor M and the other end of the screw having a magnetic brake connected thereto. Stepwise movement of the head is controlled by a metal tape 35 supported .on the beam transversely of the platen. -The ends of the tape are secured to pins (48, 68, Fig. 5) fixed to bars 40, 54 carried by blocks 36, 50, the bar 46 being adjustable by means of a nut 46. The tape has two rows (72, 74, Fig. 2) of holes 76. The holes in the tape are sensed by means of blocks (96, 114, Fig. 5) supported on the head 26 by a block 78, the blocks 96, 114 effecting movement of the head from left to right and right to left respectively. The block 114 is secured to a slide 90 and is adjustable transversely thereof. The block 96 is secured to a bar 80 and is adjustable longitudinally thereof by a screw 110. Each block 96, 114 has a horizontal slot 128 at the level of the tape 35 and has holes 130, 140 within which are mounted the components 132, 142 of a photo-electric assembly, the components being connected to a control 138 embodying a circuit which, upon receiving signals from the sensing devices in either direction, operates to bring the head to a stop, lower the ram for cutting, raise it and then step the head transversely until the next hole in the tape is interrupted. The adjustment of the block 114 widthwise of the tape enables control of movement of the head in one direction by one row of holes so that it is possible to half-step the cuts. The block 78 has secured to the upper side thereof a cam bar 146 which has an inclined surface 148 at each end. A bar 150 fastened to the beam has mounted thereon sequence switches 152 and limit switches 154, the switches 152, which are adjustably mounted on the bar, being operable by the cam surfaces 148. When a switch 152 is operated, the motor M is declutched from the screw 25 and the brake applied. Simultaneously, the magnetic clutch connecting the motor drive for the feed rolls is applied to advance the work across the platen to present an uncut portion of the work for cutting. After the work has been fed through a predetermined distance, a cutting stroke is initiated and when completed, the motor M is reversed, the clutch re-engaged and the brake disengaged to effect stepping of the head transversely of the platen in the opposite direction. When the control circuit is set for half stepping, completion of the work feed will step the head a half step after which cutting takes place. The feed of the material is controlled by a device (158, Fig. 8) provided with a dial 160 fixed on a rotatable shaft 162 to which an arm 164 is keyed, means being provided for frictionally locking the arm to the dial. The shaft 162 is provided with a disc 174a and a hub 162a. A shaft 202 supports a magnetic clutch 200 and has fixed thereto a disc 174b and a hub 178. A spring 184 is mounted on the hubs 162a, 178 and has its ends connected to pins 186, 188 fixed to the discs 174a. 174b respectively. The discs have bracket arms 176a, 176b secured thereto in underlapping relationship and a screw 177 threaded through arm 176a provides a stop against which the arm 176b rests and is held by the tension in the spring 184. The disc 174b has a cam 196 which is movable with the disc when the latter is rotated to operate the the actuating arm 198 of a switch S1. The clutch 200 is operable, when energized during material feeding, to effect rotation of the disc 174b until the cam 196 engages the actuating arm of the switch S 1 whereupon the switch will be de-activated and the spring 184 will return the disc 174b to its initial position of engagement with the screw 177. The shaft 202 has thereon a gear 204 which is connected through an idler 206 with a gear 208 on a shaft 210 coupled to the shaft which drives the feed discs 16. A motor provides power for driving the drive shaft of the feed discs and a magnetic clutch and brake assembly is employed for connecting the shaft to the motor.